Contents.
Lecture I.
The English language our inheritance ; all other possessions from our own
industry The care we have taken of it. The language of a people a
proof of their advancement in knowledge. The effect of climate on
Our language too much neglected. The language of the ancient Britone.
The Saxon language from Alfred the Wise to Alfred the Great. The
change of the Saxon after the conquest. The origin of the English language.
For good poetry there must be a high degree of mental cultivation. The
English language enriched from many sources. The copiousness, and the
strength of the English language ; Specimens ; beauty, sweetness, majesty,
with specimens for illustration. ' The diffusion of the English language.
The attention now paid to the acquisition of it. The necessity of keeping
it pure The origin a dictionaries Dr. Johnson's labours. Dr. Webster's
dictionary. The invention of the Cherokee alphabet. Sec-quah-yah
the inventor ; the method of his invention of letters, and of numbers his
talents and character The Cherokee newspaper, &c. - - - 9
LECTURE II.
Literature Plan of the following lectures Greek literature General
observations. Roman and Arabick literature. The value at lectures in
communicating knowledge. The state of learning when our ancestors
came to this country. The character of the colonists. Sir Walter Raleigh
sent to this country. The Virginia settlement. John Smith, his character
and writings. The pilgrims. The settlement of the province of Maxxachusetts
Bay. The value of the bible to the first settlers; and to all men.
The object and hopes of the lecturer. - - 0 - 29
LECTURE III.
Sketches of some of the pilgrims; Brewster, Bradford, Standish, Winslow.
Proofs of the intellectual advancement of the pilgrims. The books they
wrote; Morton's Memorial, Winslow's Good News, Mourt's Journal.
The precarious situation of the first settlers. The colony of Massachusetts
Bay. Winthrop, as a magistrate and historian, Dudley, Sir Richard
Saltonstall, John Wilson, John Elliot, the apostle to the Indians. The
Sheppards and their writings. Nathani8el Ward, Peter Bulkley. Nathaniel
Rogers, Ezekiel Rogers. The founding of Harvard College. Presidents,
Dunster, Chauncey, Hoar, Oaks, Rogers, Increase Mather. Mathematical
science. John Sherman. Progress of literature in the ancient dominion.
Their clergy. Maryland settled by respectable catholicks. New York
History of the Waldenses. Settlement of Connecticut; its distin-
guished men; of New-Hampshire; of Rhode Island. Roger Williams.
The character of the females of that age; the cause of their superiority.
General remarks upon our progenitors. - - - - - 43
A2